History of Flight
On October 10, 2012, at approximately 1155 central daylight time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N333DR, was substantially damaged when it impacted a guy-wire on a broadcast tower and then terrain near Crowley, Louisiana. The private pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to Pintail Lodge Inc. and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The personal flight originated from Broussard, Louisiana, around 1135, and was en route to Beaumont, Texas.
A witness performing maintenance on the broadcast tower observed the helicopter half a mile to the east, flying toward the tower. When the helicopter was approximately 60 feet from the tower, it banked to the left, as if to avoid hitting the tower, and subsequently struck the number 4 guy-wire on the south side. After striking the wire, the helicopter veered back to the right and descended to the ground. The witness did not observe or hear anything abnormal with the helicopter prior to the impact.
Personnel Information
The pilot, aged 66, held a private pilot certificate with airplane single and multiengine, rotorcraft-helicopter, and instrument airplane ratings. He was issued a third-class airman medical certificate on August 2, 2011, with the limitation “Must have available glasses for near vision.” His flight logbook was not located. According to his last medical certificate application, he reported 3,200 total flight hours, with 30 logged in the previous six months. The date of his last flight review, experience in a Bell 206, and recent experience could not be determined.
Aircraft Information
The accident helicopter, a Bell 206B (serial number 4340), was manufactured in 1995. It was registered with the FAA on a standard airworthiness certificate for normal operations. A Rolls Royce 250-C20J engine rated at 420 horsepower powered the helicopter. The helicopter was maintained under an annual inspection program. A review of maintenance records indicated that an annual inspection had been completed on October 10, 2012, at an airframe total time of 1,343.8 hours.
Meteorological Information
The closest official weather observation station was Le Gros Memorial Airport (K3R2), Crowley, Louisiana, located 7 nautical miles northeast of the accident site. The routine aviation weather report (METAR) issued at 1155 reported wind 070 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 27°C, dew point 20°C, altimeter 30.15 inches. At 1145, the sun was at 149 degrees azimuth and 49 degrees altitude.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The accident site was located in open, flat terrain at an elevation of 8 feet msl. Debris extended from the tower on an approximate heading of west. The aft portion of the tail boom was found in a crawfish pond between the tower and the main wreckage. The tail boom included the tail rotor gear box, aft portion of the tail rotor drive shaft, vertical fin, and tail rotor. The inboard portion of both tail rotor blades remained attached and measured about 12 inches in length; separation of the outboard portion was consistent with an impact with a cable. The tail rotor rotated without binding, and rotation was observed in the tail rotor driveshaft to the point of separation. The tail rotor blades pivoted correctly, and movement was confirmed through the anti-torque tube.
The right cabin door was located about 50 feet north of the tail boom aft section. The main rotor assembly, consisting of two blades (white and red), remained attached at the hub. The white blade was 12 feet long, partially separated about three feet outboard from the hub, with red paint transfer on the leading edge. The red blade was 16 feet long, with an eight-foot center section separated and fragmented. The outboard portion of the main rotor mast separated in overload; both balance weights remained attached.
The main wreckage was west of the tower on a service road between two crawfish ponds, inverted on an approximate heading of 240 degrees. Both skids were crushed up into the fuselage; the upper fuselage was crushed down, broken, and fragmented. The cabin area was crushed, reducing occupiable space, and the instrument panel was crushed. A tear originated on the right side near the pilot chin bubble and continued aft at a 45-degree angle for 30 inches. The anti-torque pedals separated and were found to the west. The tear in the lower fuselage and along the anti-torque pedals was consistent with a cable strike. Flight control continuity was confirmed; the collective separated from the airframe where the mixing unit jack screw was located, and the mixing unit was damaged in overload. Both front seats were broken and partially separated. All cabin doors had separated.
The right horizontal stabilizer was unremarkable; the left horizontal stabilizer was crushed at the outboard edge with dirt and grass imbedded. Damage to the tail boom at the separation point was consistent with a cable strike, with red paint transfer, rubbing, and grey witness marks along the top and sides. The bottom portion had a wide, uneven witness mark consistent with cable braiding.
Medical Information
An autopsy performed by the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office on October 11, 2012, concluded that the cause of death was multiple injuries sustained in the helicopter accident. Toxicological testing by the FAA’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute found 0.027 ug/ml Oxazepam in urine. Oxazepam is a tranquilizer used in treatment of anxiety disorders and is a metabolite of Diazepam, Nordiazepam, and Temazepam.
Additional Information
The broadcast tower was registered as KQIS FM tower No. 1061295. It was painted red and white, with each painted section 100 feet long and 11 different sections. The tower was secured by three sets of guy wires. The tower was accurately depicted on the sectional aeronautical chart at an altitude of 1,066 feet msl. The tower was properly marked based on FAA Advisory Circular 70/7460-1K and Federal Communications Commission Regulation 47 CFR §§ 17.21-17.50.